Tancredo finds parts of speech hard to swallow

M.E. Sprengelmeyer, Rocky Mountain News

Published November 29, 2005 at midnight

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President Bush's speech on immigration policy Monday was described as a less- than-appetizing sandwich by hard-line reformer Rep. Tom Tancredo.

Tancredo, R-Littleton, said the "meat" of Bush's talk was about tougher enforcement against illegal immigrants and those who hire them.

"But by starting out his speech talking about a guest-worker (program) and closing his speech talking about guest-worker, he took out all that meat and put it between two pieces of stale bread," Tancredo said.

Tancredo has been among the most outspoken congressional critics of Bush's plan to allow some illegal immigrants to receive three-year work visas if they have willing employers.

Tancredo equates it to "amnesty" for people who entered the country illegally and has vowed to lead the fight against it.

Still, Tancredo said Bush's speech signals progress since he also spoke of tougher measures to secure the border and tougher enforcement against employers who hire illegal immigrants.

"I remember his speech way back almost three years ago when he laid out his plan for immigration reform, and it didn't include anything related to enforcement," Tancredo said.

"The fact (that) he will admit to and actually propose some sort of movement on the issue of enforcement is encouraging.

"I'm very happy of course that he's done so. We just have to keep nudging him."

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